Despite sharp dissent from its two Democratic commissioners and concern from activists over privacy and costs, the FCC voted 3-2 to endorse Next-Generation TV, a set of standards known as ATSC 3.0 viewed by proponents as the gateway to a bold new era for video’s legacy players

..."This is precisely the kind of technical innovation that the FCC should champion," said Ajit Pai, chairman of the Republican-controlled FCC.

...In her strongly worded dissent, commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the standards offer "no benefit to consumers” and in fact are “a tax on every household with a TV" given new equipment expenses. Nothing but corporate interests are prompting the changes, she added. "We don’t have a Congressional mandate – we have unelected FCC officials."

..."Sinclair Broadcast Group has boasted that the new ATSC 3.0 standard will give them detailed information about consumer viewing habits that they can then sell to advertisers. They have also boasted about the patent royalties they will collect. Despite this, the FCC Order does nothing to protect consumer privacy or protect consumers from the extra costs this transition will impose."